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gundamintel247 posted an update in the group
Gunpla TV 9 years, 7 months ago Gosh I really would like to hit up the sale HLJ is having. Been wanting some of the Girls und Panzer tanks. Just wish shipping wasn’t so expensive to the US. Normally I have to wait a couple weeks or more after a new release to buy from the few places I know on the West Coast. The cost goes up but still isn’t as much if I bought it with shipping from Japan. Feeling 🙁 only one place I know sales a few of the Girls Und Panzer kits but they want like 2 and 1/2 times what they are sold for in Japan.
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Gunpla TV
Well they need to order it, pay the shipping charges and make some money in the end out of it. Can’t blame em really. We have people here saying “Well you’re selling this for 50€ a piece and it costs 30€ in Japan.” With the usual thought that comes to mind would be “Than go to Japan and buy it!”. It all comes down to making money at the end. Though I get what you’re saying however I find it a LOT easier and more affordable to buy the whatever kit I like from HLJ, stuff it into PWH and wait till I have enough stuff to get it shipped together here for less hassle and less money spent. Sure it’s gonna sit for a while there, up to 60 days, but I can gather some more money for shipping expenses or potential new buys. To me, it’s always easier to split what I have to pay into more easier-for-the-wallet pieces than to pay it all at once.. Buying from Ebay for me, from the guys that sell it where you are at the moment would mean that I’d need to pay for the kit, pay for their shipping expenses and pay another shipping fee to get it here. So that would mean double shipping expenses for no reason. That’s why I love HLJ. You get your stuff more or less from the source and you pay shipping once, usually 20% cheaper if buying GunPLa. Bottom line, BUY FROM HLJ! 😀 NAO!
do you work for HLJ Daniel? lol.
Well, I agree. HLJ still cheaper, even after shipping cost is added.
Funny thing you said that but no matter how much I love GunPla I’d have to say no. I wonder if their workers get permanent discounts. 😉
Yeah HLJ is cheaper than Ebay or whatever store there is. But if I buy some stuff from HLJ I have to pay usually +60-80% to the price of the model (depends on shipping service, includes custom fees etc.). It’s not really that cheap but still better prices than ebay prices and the PWH is the best invention out there!!!!
It’s more or less the same to all of us too. If you buy from shady websites that run shady business your stuff may be labeled as “gift” or declared for a lot less value than the original so you may save some money. However, I did try that once or twice and found out that that extra $$$ you save isn’t worth the aggravation while you wait not certain wether your kit will be delivered to you or you were conned. So, the way I do things is HLJ for the most Japanese stuff I want with ebay for those discontinued things and stuff made in Europe that come a bit steeper when ordering from HLJ for obvious shipping expenses.
With the changes HLJ has made over the past, starting with the 20% discount then the addition of the Private Warehouse, HLJ always comes up cheaper when the kits are from Japan, i.e. Bandai. I have looked all over, even ‘evilbay’ ( ebay) and HLJ prices plus shipping range from a little savings to a large amount of savings.
There is a place on the east coast state side to get gunpla from that is reasonable if you order more that one kit at a time. But you will be paying just a little bit more than what HLJ charges. I your smart you will order from HLJ when they have sales or shipping discounts.
on the west coast prices are far more reasonable quite comparable to hlj. On the east coast it’s quite a different story though. for instance in Vancouver BC compared to Toronto, for a PG kit expect to save over a hundred bucks. HLJ still tends to be cheaper but then you have to wait for it to arrive and waiting really sucks when it’s something you really want. On another note I’m not sure if HLJ does the promotions with gundam.info, but the store I used when I was in Vancouver did and after 3 contests I managed to win the RG set and due to that I currently own every RG kit available for standard retail(this means up to Destiny), so I think both have their merits, for new releases though and preorders you really can’t beat HLJ.
Yea, I can see the west coast being more reasonable, but I live in Virginia lol. Normally what I do is order off Amazon where I can get things delivered next day for $3.99 or free two day delivery through their prime program. So like for example I just check the MG Sinanju buying it from HLJ would be about $99 where as buying it from Amazon would be $86 and I get the item next day. So I save money and get it quicker. Another company I use has a $12 flat shipping rate no matter how much you buy. A year or so ago after my dad passed he had a good life insurance policy so I took and bought like every model from the 00 line I didn’t have. Came in two huge boxes but was only $12 for me to pay to ship. I should just move to Japan and see if I can get a job at HLJ.
I also wanted to add that I know they don’t control the shipping cost so really we should be talking about the mail carrier systems all my initial post was intended to vent frustration why as much as I want to order things, I just mentally can’t get over the shipping cost of $60 for 3 or 4 kits. I take fuel and stuff into account but it’s just a hurdle to me because I say to myself “oh just order it from somewhere you know and that $60 can buy another model or supplies.”